The procedures outlined in this section are designed for the safety of every member of the Mills community in the event that one or more campus buildings must be evacuated. Take the time now to learn a primary and secondary exit route from your campus building.

When To Evacuate

To prevent confusion, do not evacuate a campus building unless you hear a fire alarm sounding continuously and/or you are directed to evacuate by a public safety officer and/or your safety coordinator.

If there is an obvious present danger, like a fire, evacuate on your own authority. Remember that during some emergencies, such as an earthquake, it is generally considered safer to remain inside the building.

Evacuation Procedures

When the evacuation “signal” is given, leave the building immediately, following the primary exit route. If this route is unsafe, use your secondary exit route. Do not waste time collecting your personal belongings before exiting.

Use stairs to evacuate. Elevators can jam and trap you inside.

Help people around you to evacuate. Knock on doors, check bathrooms and yell to others as you leave. Assist anyone with disabilities in exiting the building.

Upon reaching the street level, clear the exit way immediately. Keep all streets, fire lanes, fire hydrants and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and crews.

IMPORTANT: In some campus buildings the fire alarm is local and only rings in that building. In any emergency, it is very important to contact the Police/Fire/Ambulance at 911 and the department of Public Safety at ext. 5555.

Emergency Assembly Areas (EAA)

Several areas have been designated Emergency Assembly Areas for the Mills College campus. Take the time to locate the primary Emergency Assembly Area for your office or residence on the list below. If the primary Emergency Assembly Area for your building is unsafe, Public Safety officers or Building Safety Coordinators will inform you of the alternate emergency assembly area.

If the emergency affects only a limited area of the campus, move to the Emergency Assembly Area (EAA) designated for the building you are in at the time of the emergency. In some emergency situations, all of these areas may not be safe. Your safety coordinator and/or college personnel will inform you of the alternate EAA in these situations. Once people have gathered in the designated EAA, safety coordinators will take an accurate head count. Do not return to an evacuated building until ‘‘all clear’’ instructions are given by college personnel and/or your safety coordinators.

If the emergency is campus wide (a multi-structure fire, a major earthquake, a chemical spill), go immediately to the EAA. for your office or residence. Your safety coordinators will have rosters of all building occupants and will take an accurate head count. It is important to check in at the EAA for your residence or building so that others do not worry needlessly and spend valuable time searching for you. Once in your EAA, further instructions will be given by college personnel and/or safety coordinators.

Stay on campus until you have been accounted for and have been cleared to leave. Realize that in major emergencies, roads may be damaged or blocked by debris, making travel dangerous or impossible. In these situations, it may be necessary to stay on campus for several hours or even days.

Emergency Stays on campus

If an earthquake, flood or other emergency occurs which forces large numbers of people to stay on campus, the College has plans and provisions to house and feed members of the campus community. Information regarding travel safety will be passed on to members of the campus community as it becomes available.

Campus-Wide Evacuations

In some emergency situations, it may be necessary to evacuate the entire Mills population to an off campus location. Notification that such an evacuation is necessary will be given by Public Safety officers or your Safety Coordinator. They will inform you where you should evacuate to and the designated route you should follow. Persons with cars will be advised to use their own vehicle and to provide rides to anyone without a vehicle. Persons unable to obtain a ride will be instructed to report to a designated staging area for transportation using campus vehicles. Campus transportation resources will be allocated first to children and individuals with disabilities.

Campus Automated External Defibrillators (AED) Locations

DPS–Public SafetyVehicle (Ford) (mobile)Vehicle (Toyota)(mobile)

MUSIC Main Lobby–outside ticket office

*POOL–Office*Kaiser–Clinic

*Units not controlled by DPS.

Emergency Blue Light Call Boxes

The Mills College campus is equipped with six emergency call boxes. These units, identified by the blue light on the top and reflective markings, are strategically placed throughout the campus. Please do not hesitate to use the call box for emergency assistance: vehicle accident, medical assistance needed, crime in progress, safety hazard, etc. The call box is activated by pressing the emergency button on the front, you are immediately connected with the Mills College Department of Public Safety security gatehouse and field officer(s). Your location is automatically given by the call box.

Maps designating the locations of the emergency call boxes are posted throughout campus. You may also obtain a copy at our office at CPM 113 or refer to the emergency map link above for a printable version. Emergency call boxes are in place for notifying the Department of Public Safety of emergencies, intentional tampering, vandalism or misuse of call boxes is a criminal offense.

The Department of Public Safety is committed to working with all members and guests of the Mills community to resolve criminal matters in a timely fashion. All members of the Department of Public Safety know that for this to happen they must cooperate and work hand-in-hand with faculty, staff and the students of Mills College. By working together the Department of Public Safety and the College community can create a safe and secure environment.

Further information

Further information about public safety can be obtained from the Department of Public Safety at extension 5555, or the Director of Student Life at extension 2130.